Foster Farms recalls 1 million pounds of chicken
July 04, 2014 | 02:22 PM
Foster Farms, the California chicken producer that has been the subject of a 16-month investigation over salmonella outbreaks, has recalled more than a million pounds of chicken after the Food Safety and Inspection Service found a direct link with the illness, according to news releases and reports.
Although 547 people have been sickened, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is first time FSIS has requested a recall because it is the first time an illness has been linked specifically to a product, and FSIS does not have the authority to request recalls without that link.
“FSIS now has conclusive evidence directly linking Foster Farms product produced on March 8, 10 and 11, 2014, to a salmonella Heidelberg illness,” FSIS said in a news release Thursday.
FSIS said it is verifying that the product is being “removed from commerce.”
“FSIS was notified on June 23 of the illness and took immediate steps to collect the product for testing and announced the recall as soon as a direct link was confirmed. Combating salmonella remains a top priority for FSIS and we continue to take all steps within our authority to reduce foodborne illness.”
Food safety lawyer Bill Marler has explained much of the background of the case in a blog post and article in Food Safety News. (See links)
In a letter from USDA to Foster Farms last October, the department said inspectors had documented “fecal material on carcasses” along with “poor sanitary dressing practices, insanitary food contact surfaces, insanitary nonfood contact surfaces and direct product contamination,” the Associated Press reported.
“The recall comes two weeks after the company celebrated its 75th anniversary and announced it had reduced instances of salmonella well below the national average for cut-up chicken parts,” the Los Angeles Times reported today.
▪ USDA Food Safety and Inspection — California Firm Recalls Chicken Products Due to Possible Salmonella Heidelberg Contamination
▪ Foster Farms Issues Voluntary Recall of Chicken with Select March ‘Use or Freeze By’ or ‘Best By’ Dates
▪ Food Safety News — FSIS: ‘Conclusive Evidence’ Linking Salmonella Case to Foster Farms Chicken Prompts Limited Recall
▪ Marler Blog — ‘Good on ya,’ Foster Farms and FSIS too
▪ Associated Press — California chicken linked to salmonella recalled
▪ USA Today — Foster Farms recalls over one million pounds of chicken
▪ Los Angeles Times — Foster Farms issues first recall in 16-month salmonella outbreak
Although 547 people have been sickened, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is first time FSIS has requested a recall because it is the first time an illness has been linked specifically to a product, and FSIS does not have the authority to request recalls without that link.
“FSIS now has conclusive evidence directly linking Foster Farms product produced on March 8, 10 and 11, 2014, to a salmonella Heidelberg illness,” FSIS said in a news release Thursday.
FSIS said it is verifying that the product is being “removed from commerce.”
“FSIS was notified on June 23 of the illness and took immediate steps to collect the product for testing and announced the recall as soon as a direct link was confirmed. Combating salmonella remains a top priority for FSIS and we continue to take all steps within our authority to reduce foodborne illness.”
Food safety lawyer Bill Marler has explained much of the background of the case in a blog post and article in Food Safety News. (See links)
In a letter from USDA to Foster Farms last October, the department said inspectors had documented “fecal material on carcasses” along with “poor sanitary dressing practices, insanitary food contact surfaces, insanitary nonfood contact surfaces and direct product contamination,” the Associated Press reported.
“The recall comes two weeks after the company celebrated its 75th anniversary and announced it had reduced instances of salmonella well below the national average for cut-up chicken parts,” the Los Angeles Times reported today.
▪ USDA Food Safety and Inspection — California Firm Recalls Chicken Products Due to Possible Salmonella Heidelberg Contamination
▪ Foster Farms Issues Voluntary Recall of Chicken with Select March ‘Use or Freeze By’ or ‘Best By’ Dates
▪ Food Safety News — FSIS: ‘Conclusive Evidence’ Linking Salmonella Case to Foster Farms Chicken Prompts Limited Recall
▪ Marler Blog — ‘Good on ya,’ Foster Farms and FSIS too
▪ Associated Press — California chicken linked to salmonella recalled
▪ USA Today — Foster Farms recalls over one million pounds of chicken
▪ Los Angeles Times — Foster Farms issues first recall in 16-month salmonella outbreak
